Arthur Dake
Born in 1910, Arthur Dake is the world's oldest living grandmaster. He was one of the major figures of the 1930s, which was one of the most outstanding periods in American chess history. Most people do not realize that the Depression years saw unparalleled U.S. dominance of world chess competition. When the U.S. teams won three consecutive Olympiads, in 1931, 1933, and 1935, Dake was one of their major members, winning a gold medal and a silver medal. He was one of the top international competitors, with an impressive set of tournament finishes. He held his own with fellow Americans Reshevsky, Fine and Kashdan, with whom he vied for U.S. chess dominance.
Economic pressures finally forced Dake out of the then non-profitable world of professional chess; but he has resumed play in recent years and is one of the strongest players of his age around. Arthur says his "best chess prize ever" was his wife Helen, whom he met on his 1935 Olympiad voyage.